Former Chief Economist for CNBC and Financial Journalist to Deliver Insights on the Global Real Estate Market

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2017 - Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE), the world’s largest community of high-quality independent real estate companies, today announced the appointment of Marci Rossell as the company’s first chief economist. Rossell, Ph.D., will be the voice of LeadingRE’s global economic research.

Rossell has a long history in analyzing the economic market from an international perspective. Former Chief Economist for CNBC and a groundbreaking financial journalist, Rossell also served as corporate economist and investment spokesperson for OppenheimerFunds, one of the nation's largest mutual fund companies. She began her career as an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and earned a Ph.D. in economics from Southern Methodist University. In her new role, Rossell will provide updates and strategic economic insights for members of LeadingRE, as well as Luxury Portfolio International®, the luxury face of the company.

“It’s critical for us to provide our members with in-depth economic analysis on a global basis,” said Paul Boomsma, COO of LeadingRE and president of Luxury Portfolio. “Marci has the innate ability to explore complex economic issues and make them relevant to people's lives, families and their home buying and selling decisions.”

Rossell is a frequent conference speaker exploring the nexus of economics, politics, culture and the media. Her creative and dynamic approach to discussing the economy, international events, and movements in capital markets makes her highly sought after as an analyst of the complex issues facing the global real estate market. She will deliver monthly updates for LeadingRE members, as well as speak at the company’s annual conferences and contribute to the bi-annual Luxury Portfolio magazine.

“I have long admired the leadership role that Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® commands among many of the most respected independent real estate brokerages around the globe. I’m excited to meet more of the members at the upcoming global conference in March and look forward to sharing my thoughts on how the international economic picture will impact housing trends and market conditions around the world,” added Rossell.

The news comes as LeadingRE comes off a year of record global growth, with members now in 60+ countries. The global community has seen double-digit increases in closed international referral business and U.S. referral growth that has exceeded overall market performance. In addition, its subsidiary employee relocation management company, RELO Direct®, has seen significant growth in 2016 as the result of its growth in both the government and corporate mobility sectors. The creation of the economist position represents a reflection of the company’s increasing presence in the workings of both the international real estate and global mobility markets.

About Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (www.LeadingRE.com) is a selective global community of the highest quality independent real estate companies, with over 550 companies and 128,000 sales associates in over 60 countries. In 2015, the network generated over one million transactions valued at $351 billion in annual home sales. LeadingRE exists to make its members better by connecting them to opportunities and people around the globe, supporting them with an international referral network, professional development programs, unique events and connections to people and opportunities worldwide.